Can LSU make another run to BCS title game?

Mike Detillier NFL Analyst

Friday

Aug 24, 2012 at 5:00 PMAug 24, 2012 at 6:00 PM

You can make a strong argument that LSU's 2011 regular season was the most impressive in school history.

You can make a strong argument that LSU's 2011 regular season was the most impressive in school history. The Tigers defeated eight teams during the season that were in the Top 20 when they faced them, and they defeated Oregon, Alabama and Arkansas that were in the Top 5 at that time.But the beat down by Alabama in the BCS national championship game has lingered around the program for almost eight months, and every player wants to get that bitter taste of defeat out of his mouth.The key to LSU's run to the national title is quarterback Zach Mettenberger.The former junior college All-American quarterback, who started his college career with the Georgia Bulldogs, has all the physical tools to develop into an elite college player at the most critical spot on the team. LSU will need for him to play like a big-time quarterback, especially against Alabama and Arkansas late in the season, for the Tigers to have a chance to hoist the crystal ball in the air as champions.While Mettenberger gets into the groove of playing SEC football, the Tigers will rely on a mammoth offensive line, and there is not a better group of running backs in the country than what LSU has.LSU's offensive line — led by All-SEC performers in Chris Faulk and Alex Hurst and Josh Williford, La'El Collins, P.J. Lonergan, Josh Dworaczyk and Elliott Porter — are the building blocks for success on offense.But the real talent is in the backfield, as the Tigers can break out numerous combinations that will be successful.A unit led by junior Spencer Ware also features the speed of Michael Ford, the all-around skills of former Hahnville halfback Alfred Blue, the power running skills of former Patterson standout Kenny Hilliard and a freshman in Jeremy Hill, who has quickly gotten the attention of upperclassmen and coaches.No matter what head coach Les Miles has said about opening up the offense, the Tigers are a team built around the running game and a heavy dose of "smash-mouth" football.When they pass the ball, sophomore Odell Beckham will be the top receiving target, and he is the big-play performer on the team. Former Lutcher standout Jarvis Landry has been impressive in the spring and summer camps, and he should team up well with senior Russell Shepard and James Wright.Former E.D. White Catholic star Chase Clement hopes to be a bigger part of the passing attack, and he is already recognized as one of the top run blocking tight ends in the country. Clement's 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame gives Mettenberger a huge receiving target down the middle of the field. But where LSU is built strong and where they have dominated is in the trenches defensively.No college football team has produced an NFL draft choice every year in the past nine drafts other than LSU. This season, the Tigers have three potential first-round picks in the best tandem of defensive ends in the country in Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo and a five-star quality interior defensive tackle in Bennie Logan.Add Anthony Johnson, Josh Downs, Lavar Edwards, Ego Ferguson and Jermauria Rasco at defensive end to the mix and the Tigers strength again will be in their front four's ability to consistently put heavy pressure on the passer and stuff the running lanes.Kevin Minter returns as the Tigers' starting middle linebacker, but most LSU fans can't wait to see the freshman talents of Lamar Louis, Deion "Debo" Jones and Lorenzo Phillips, who have already wowed the coaches in their short tenure at LSU.It will be interesting to see if former Thibodaux High linebacker Trey Granier can get in to the mix or help out on special teams, but there is no doubt that this linebacker group is the best in school history.There is no doubt that the Tigers will also miss the play making skills of Tyrann Mathieu.Mathieu was indeed the emotional spark plug the team needed at crucial times over the past two seasons, but LSU returns one of the top cover-cornerbacks in the SEC (Tharold Simon), the best free safety in college football (Eric Reid) and a physical strong safety (Craig Loston).The new names in the secondary to remember are Jalen Mills, Jalen Collins and Micah Eugene. All three have shown great promise, and while inexperienced, LSU has some quality cover people waiting for a chance to fill Mathieu's shoes.The Tigers also have college football's top punter in Brad Wing and a reliable kicker in Drew Alleman. Odell Beckham takes over Mathieu's return spot, and he is a big-play performer with great speed in the open field.The pieces are in place for LSU to again be in a position to play for the national championship, despite the loss of Mathieu.But LSU's key this season will again be the talents of its impressive defensive line, a great stable of running backs and Mettenberger's ability to mature into a top flight SEC quarterback like what we saw from Alabama's A.J. McCarron last season.I really believe that we will see a repeat of an undefeated regular season and another win over Georgia in the SEC championship game.If so, fans will finally get that showdown many have been waiting to see — LSU vs. USC. And this time the Tigers will revel in the confetti.

NFL analyst Mike Detillier is based in Raceland.

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